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It is not only the Question of the Maoist Party of Nepal

Prakash Bom - 11/24/2011

When September 2011 Dr. Baburam Bhattarai, the forth prime minister of the federal democratic republic of Nepal and vice-chairman of the Maoist party of Nepal, visited New York city on the occasion of the UN General Assembly annual meeting, over a dozen of chiefs of Nepali Diaspora organizations in NYC had chance to question him in a program organized by Nepal’s Permanent Mission to the UN.

Among all slipshod-questions of chiefs, one of the sensible questions was asked from the back-end bench of audience in the hall, loud and clear about the peace process asking the prime minister whether the Maoist party still considers the Nepal Army its foe or its fellow countrymen. I think, this question is fundamental to all Nepalis, particularly the political parties to self-examine their political stance.

If the solidarity among Nepalis of diverse communities is indispensable for social justice and equality, then it can only be achieved after the accomplishment of peace process and constitution drafting. After all, it is the constitution which ought to guarantee the legislative processes for social justice and equality in a nation of diverse communalities by leaving no place for foes against all fellow countrymen.

Even the United States is considering the removal of the Nepal Maoists from its terrorist watch-list as soon as the country steps up efforts to conclude the peace process and drafting a new constitution! Then the question, ‘Why the main political parties Nepali Congress (NC), and the United Marxist and Leninist (UML) are afraid of the seven-thousand Maoist combatants to be integrated into Nepal Army with the combatant responsibility?’ must be raised. And, was this clear or not in the twelve point peace accord, in the first place?

It is a question whether we want to live in a nation of diverse communities with the respect and care for all fellow countrymen or we still desire unknowingly to live together by keeping ‘foes’ to arouse our primitive sense of fear, distrust, anger and hatred among ourselves. This is the choice that we have to make for or against the peace and constitution drafting processes. If the choice is not made for well being and happiness of all fellow countrymen, the nation “Nepal” will suffer with its sovereignty.

The Maoist chairman has recently called India to step in to abridge these stances among main political parties, perhaps with the sense of hopelessness to create consensus politics for peace particularly. The peace process is the only barrier to constitution drafting. Therefore, the nation must warn those who fail to consider consensus for peace with their fear, anger, hatred and distrust.

The current Bhattarai-Dahal Maoist politics have sidelined the hardliners in their party as ineffective and outdated political ideologue for the nation. What nation and Nepali people need is the peace and a democratic constitution that guarantee social justice and equality for all fellow countrymen. There should be no foe to fight in entire nation at this point and time when the peace and constitution drafting have become vital to the nation.

Therefore, it is a time for consensus and the main political parties NC and UML must yield to it to support liberal Maoist politics that can make the hardliners less-dominant within the Maoist party. There is no other choice for the nation than the peace and Democracy. Yet, if main political parties such as NC and UML remain irresponsible, then they dig not only their own graves but of the entire nation.

In order to wake them up, perhaps India will have to step in. Besides, Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (Democratic) has indicated for consensus to integrate seven thousand combatants in Nepal Army with combatant assignments as per the proposal of the UCPN-Maoists. Whereas NC and UML still insist on assigning the Maoist combatant with non-combatant role.

If the political parties reach consensus to form an “Experts’ Committee” to determine integration of seven thousand Maoist combatants into Nepal Army with the professional military training in group prior to the assignment, and providing seven-hundred-thousand Nepali Rupees ($10,000) to each combatant for rehabilitation, then the door for NC and UML should be open for peace.

It is time to trust the Maoist leaderships that have come up with the liberal political stance to establish the cornerstones of democratic politics where majority rules and the rights of the minority are guaranteed to be protected under the constitution. If not where would NC and UML will keep the Maoists that have majority in the Constituent Assembly?

Besides, Nepal has for the first time in its history, the most talented and well versed intellectual prime minister, who is serious and committed to uplift the morale of Nepalis, with the profound understanding of the diverse conditions of the nation in every aspect. It is a chance that Nepal and Nepali people must not miss it for peace and constitution drafting.

Hereafter, people and nation can have path to take the journey of Democracy with the peace and prosperity. The nationalism of a nation can only flourish if it moves forward with the appropriate appreciations of its past. The irrelevant must be either abolished or put aside. The backwardness of a nation cannot dispense nationalism but prisons conceit instead. Change is inevitable because it is relevant therefore it is indispensable.